After struggling early in the season after transitioning to a starting role and subsequently developing a bout of Steve Blass disease, Bard was sent to Pawtucket, never to return. Except now, after starting the 2013 campaign in Double-A Portland, he has finally come back to the big club and is back in his familiar reliever’s role.

Before his first game back, WEEI’s Rob Bradford and the Red Sox Gameday Live crew talked about what to expect from Bard this season. Bradford says Bard’s fastball is hittable in the big leagues, but that his slider is so good he still has the tools to be successful at this level.